KATIE STORMS IN AND TAKES OUT BUNNIES

Unfortunately Katie stormed in to cause the cancellation of the annual Easter Bunny doubles run on Easter Monday however, the long weekend started on a much better footing with the Sudbury Five mile on Friday being attended by plenty of Bentley Blue.

Matt Jones was the first Bentley male runner home in his first race over this distance in a very good time of 36:30, this performance secured him 79th place out of the 429 strong field. Also having a strong run was Luke Groves who returned with a personal best of 47:02, this knocked a massive 4 minutes off his previous best time over 5 miles. Eileen Shadford was the first Bentley lady home in a great time of 39:22. Other runners on Friday were Mark Ross 38:44, Tricia Stacey 41:35, Karen Skene who was returning to racing after injury to make sure she was ok for the upcoming Manchester marathon 41:48, Debs Cubberley 46:24, Paul Hollidge 46:24, Sue Sorrell 47:05, Barbara Law 51:13, John Bush 51:23 and Claire Groves 58:23.

On Saturday there were the usual Parkrunners with a couple of members attacking courses a bit further afield. Charlie Keitch had a 2nd place finish at Forest Rec in Nottingham finishing in 19:28 whilst Helene Tyler ran the 5k distance in Lincoln in 30:11.

Closer to home a record 101 runners took part in the Harwich run, we had 7 runners including a couple of course PB’s for Patrick Reynolds (22:05) and Andy Fuller (23:24). Matt Knowles (21:13) was the first blue over the line followed by Malcolm Jarvis (22:08), Paul Hollidge (24:07), Kevin James (28:02) and Sandra James (33:07).

Over at the castle in Colchester we had 11 runners in the field led home by Lee Clarkson (23:38) who was followed home by Anna Mills (24:10), Charles Williams (24:23), Scott Young (24:52), Chusa Fructuoso (25:01), Lynsey Apps (28:16), Alison Clarke (28:46), Claudia Keitch (29:12), Belinda Palmer-Barnes (29:38) and Andy Stephens (31:33).

It’s been another week so you won’t be surprised to know that Paul Blackwell chalked up another 26.2, this time at the Great Barrow marathon. He then took advantage of the long weekend and, accompanied by Janine Simpson, ran his 61st marathon. The pair completed the Enigma Reverse on Easter Monday in 4:52:56 (Simpson) and 4:53:29 (Blackwell).

Finally, Meera Rajoo-Oakley ran the Easter Eggstravaganza over four days which was hosted by Mid Essex casuals, Little Baddow Ridge Runners, Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners and Springfield Striders. Meera was one of only a few who ran all four days and is awaiting the cumulative score to be completed however, she ran well across all four days posting the following times:
Day 1: 13.3 miles: 2:10:55 – 5th Lady
Day 2: 7.6 miles: 1:09:06. 3rd lady
Day 3: 6.8 miles: 1:05:21, 5th lady
Day 4: 6.5 miles: 1:03:34 – 4th lady.

Anna Mills joined Meera on Day 3 to run the 6.8 miles, they crossed the line together in a joint 1:05:21 time.